484 COLEOPTERA. 



head and antennfe, of a Aelvety black, the abdomen slightly 

 brownish, while the legs and anal forceps are i)ale resinous 

 brown, and the tips of the tibi;e and the tarsal joints pale 

 testaceous. It is about one-fourth of an inch in length. 



The succeeding families comprise the divisions Tetramera 

 and Trimera of early authors, in which the penultimate joint 

 of the tarsi is but slightly developed, forming an enlargement 

 at the base of the last joint, with w'hich it is closely 

 united. 



Bruchid^ Leach. This small family comprises Curculio-like 

 beetles of short rounded form which arc noted for their activity 

 and readiness to take flight when disturbed. They differ from 

 the Curc\ilio7iid(je in the proboscis being folded on the chest, 

 the antennae being short and straight and inserted in a cavity 

 next to the eyes. There are 300 species of Bruchus known. 

 Bruchus pisi Linn., the Pea weevil (Fig. 515), is found in seed 

 peas in the spring. It appears soon after the pea is in flower, 

 ovipositing on the young pods (GloA-er). The young larva 

 feeds in the growing pod, on the pulp of the pea. Peas infested 

 with them should be soaked m boiling hot water before sowing. 

 Bruchus varicomis Lee, in like manner infests the bean. 



CuRCULiONiD.E Latreillc. The weevil fiimily ma}^ be at once 

 recognized b}' the head being lengthened into a long snout or 

 proboscis (used for boring into objects Avhen about to oviposit), 

 near the middle of which are situated the long, slender, elbowed 

 antennae. At the extremity of the snout are situated the 

 mouth-parts, Avhich are nnich reduced in size, the palpi having 

 small rounded joints. Their bodies are hard and generally 

 round and often very minute. They are very timid and 

 quickly feign death. The larvie are white, thick, fleshy, foot- 

 less grubs, with fleshy tubercles instead of legs, and arc armed 

 with thick curved jaws. They feed on nuts, seeds, the roots, 

 pith and bark of plants, leaves or floAvers, and especially 

 the fruits, while some are leaf-miners and others are said to 

 make galls. Preparatory to transforming they spin silken 

 cocoons. The number of species already known is immense, 

 being not less than from 8,000 to 10,000, and upwards of 630 



